Tardy, Early Dismissal, and Attendance Policy Reminder and Reboot

“Middle school attendance and GPA provide the best indication of how students will perform in high school classes. These are better indicators than test scores or background characteristics, such as race and neighborhood poverty level, for identifying which students are at risk of failing ninth-grade classes or earning low grades in high school (Allensworth, et al., p. 1, 2014, link).

Some recent trends related to being present and on time to school have emerged over the last few weeks and we thought this was a good time to share some reminders about tardiness, early dismissals, and absences.

Tardiness Guidelines:

• Any student arriving to their homeroom after 8:05 is considered tardy.

• Tardys are only excused if a note is provided from your Physician/Dentist noting the appointment date and time or if there is a family emergency.

• Chronic tardiness results in consequences such as a before school detention at 7:25 a.m.

• Please see the HKMS Student Handbook p. 25 for more information.

Early Dismissal Guidelines:

• Early Dismissals should be avoided.

• To avoid interfering with the bus line or further disrupting the orderly operation of school there is an early dismissal “blackout period” from 2:30 - 2:50 (barring an emergency). 

• Please see the HKMS Student Handbook p. 25 for more information.

Note: The car pickup line moves very smoothly. All cars are out and on the road well before 3:00. Being at or near the front of this line is the best way to get a jump on traffic.

Absence Guidelines:

• Parents/guardians can excuse students from school up to nine times per school year for any reason at their own discretion.  All absences no matter the reason should be reported to the HKMS attendance line.

• To be considered “excused” after the ninth, an absence must be accompanied by a note for one of the following reasons: student illness (w/ documentation), religious holiday. death in the family, mandated court appearances, bussing issues, an extraordinary educational opportunity, or a mental health day.

• Any absence not listed above after the ninth will be considered unexcused.  

• After the sixth unexcused absence the student is considered truant and an intervention plan must be implemented.

• If there are ten or more unexcused absences in a year, or four in a month, the family must be referred to a community service provider, like DCF for further support and guidance.

• Linked here are the full state attendance guidelines provided by the Connecticut Department of Education.